THE RECORD DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE THE HEARING OFFICER MADE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO SECURE THE TESTIMONY OF AN EYEWITNESS TO THE FIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN THE MISBEHAVIOR REPORT CHARGING THE PETITIONER; NEW HEARING ORDERED (THIRD DEPT).
The Third Department, annulling the determination and ordering a new hearing, determined the hearing officer did not make reasonable efforts to have a witness to the fight, Johnson, testify at petitioner’s misbehavior hearing. Petitioner requested the witness’s testimony as part of his defense:
The record reflects that, although Johnson agreed to testify at the hearing, the Hearing Officer denied Johnson as a witness stating, without any elaboration, that Johnson was unavailable. Although the Hearing Officer indicated that he made four attempts to procure Johnson as a witness, the record does not indicate, other than on that particular day and time, when those attempts were made by the Hearing Officer or the nature thereof. Furthermore, the Hearing Officer did not complete a witness denial form setting forth any further detail regarding his attempts to contact Johnson or the reasons for Johnson’s unavailability. Under these circumstances, we find that the record does not sufficiently reflect whether reasonable and diligent efforts were made by the Hearing Officer to secure Johnson as a witness … . Because the Hearing Officer articulated a good-faith reason for denying the witness, we find that petitioner’s regulatory right to call a witness was violated and, therefore, remit the matter for a new hearing … . Matter of Douglas v Annucci, 2021 NY Slip Op 06020, Third Dept 11-4-21